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Importance of reading in a writer’s life

Reading plays a crucial role in anybody’s life but for a writer it is a lifeline. A writer can not improve his craft if he or she is not interested in reading. So why do writers need to be a voracious reader? Here’s why writers need to read a lot

1. To increase the vocabulary

2. To keep themselves informed and updated

3. To keep their mind always buzzing with ideas

4. To help identify the shortcomings as a writer

5. To recognise the done to death topic and avoiding it

To increase their vocabulary

A writer needs to read to enhance their vocabulary. A good writer will always keep a dictionary with him or her to learn the meaning of new words that come across while reading. With the increase in vocabulary a writer can express himself in a better way without struggling for words and phrases. He or she will also never go wrong with the common grammatical errors. Reading other writers helps a writer learn the techniques of fine writing. Writing is an art which needs constant improvisation. If the writer is not sure what to read then he or she should start from their favourite author or genre. If the writer likes a science fiction then he should read the books of the authors who have written science fiction novels.

To keep themselves informed and updated

For a good writer it is important that he or she is well informed on any given topic – be it current or a feature. He or she should be able to hold a conversation on any topic and subsequently write on any given topic. Reading helps a writer accomplish this. Reading not only informs and keeps anyone updated but in a writer it inspires a thought process — thoughts that become an idea for a writer to write on it.

To avoid writer’s block

Writer who is a voracious reader will almost never face the dreaded writer’s block as his or her mind is always buzzing with ideas. Yes, reading is a good solution to cure the problem of writer’s block. Writers face the block when words fail them so when facing the famous writer’s block pick up a good book with the favourite beverage and find a secluded corner to read. Writers will find this very helpful as it provides a necessary break from the writing process and the hungry mind gets its fodder.

To help identify the shortcomings as writer

Reading other writers gives an insight to a writer where he or she is going wrong or why his or her writing not generating enough response or why it keeps getting rejected by the editors. It also helps learn the fine nuances of writing in a particular genre and what works best in that genre. Reading the works of other writers also helps a writer take a fresh perspective on a given topic.

To recognise the done to death topics and avoiding them

Sometimes a writer usually the newbie writers tend to write without a proper research on the topic and without reading any available material on the topic and hence when they face rejection they wonder what went wrong. Reading helps a writer to not to be in such a position. If a writer is planning to write on a common topic like dating then he or she should read all the written material available on that topic and see if there is any other angle he or she can write in that topic if the answer is no then the writer should avoid that topic.

So if someone out there is planning to embark on a writing career then the first step towards it to write a lot and the second one being read a lot.